Goodnight Mommy (Ich Seh Ich Seh) (2014)
Starring Lukas and Elias Schwarz, Susanne Wuest
Directed by Severin Fiala and Veronika Franz
The Austrian dramatic thriller Ich Seh Ich Seh (Goodnight Mommy), written and directed by Severin Fiala and Veronika Franz, is an utterly unnerving film, and one that demands almost no prior knowledge of its plot to fully appreciate the level of unease it causes. The very definition of a slow burn, it sucks you in with its impeccable performances before giving way to uncompromising brutality on a deeply personal – and cringeworthy – level.
Lukas and Elias (Lukas and Elias Schwarz) are twin boys living in the countryside with their mother (Susanne Wuest), a seemingly cold and uncaring woman whose face is shrouded in bandages due to an unknown accident. While she acknowledges Elias, she ignores Lukas, suggesting the latter is to blame for whatever it is that left her disfigured. As the days pass, it becomes clear that the mother they once knew and loved has changed, leading them to believe that someone – or something – has replaced her.
Ich Seh Ich Seh is quiet. Much of the film is devoid of a score, allowing it to unfold with an almost confusing sense of dread. For the better part of an hour, events play out slowly yet deliberately, giving us time to discover the mindset of the characters without the benefit of knowing the circumstances surrounding their situation. Lukas and Elias are identical twins with a nearly unbreakable bond, while their mother, her face bandaged and emotions cold, feels otherworldly. She’s a decidedly sinister character, punishing the boys and revealing herself to be a careless individual who is clearly at the end of her rope. One moment, seemingly one of the young boys’ dreams, finds the mother taking a walk into the woods and slowly stripping. This lends credence to the young boys’ belief that their mother has been replaced but also keeps you guessing as to her true nature.
But then things change, and the film takes a turn that gradually sees it transition from emotional family drama into outright horror territory. As the gravity of the situation begins to escalate, it becomes clear that something isn’t quite right; post-film discussion brought out a variety of opinions concerning the true nature of the twins and their motives. While the urge to discuss this aspect of the film is high, I shall refrain, but suffice it to say it’s the type of film you can still appreciate and marvel at even if you guess the outcome within the first five minutes. Fiala and Franz keep things balanced in a way that keeps the secret hidden with the inspiring performances and assured direction preventing you from picking up on any hints that may be dropped as the film slowly builds in a crescendo of brutality.
Ich Seh Ich Seh demands your patience. It’s part family drama and part horror and delves into the themes of love, loss, grief, and coping in an incredibly tragic way that will leave you thinking about it long after it ends. You owe it to yourself to see this movie as soon as you can.
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Film
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